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If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech), but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or request.
Statements
When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:
- pronouns
- present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
- place and time expressions
- tenses (backshift)
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| direct speech | “I speak English.” |
| reported speech (no backshift) | He says that he speaks English. |
| reported speech (backshift) | He said that he spoke English. |
Questions
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
- pronouns
- present tense verbs (3rd person singular)
- place and time expressions
- tenses (backshift)
Also note that you have to:
- transform the question into an indirect question
- use the interrogative or if / whether
| Type | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| with interrogative | direct speech | “Why don’t you speak English?” |
| reported speech | He asked me why I didn’t speak English. | |
| without interrogative | direct speech | “Do you speak English?” |
| reported speech | He asked me whether / if I spoke English. | |
Requests
When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:
- pronouns
- place and time expressions
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| direct speech | “Carol, speak English.“ |
| reported speech | He told Carol to speak English. |
Additional Information and Exeptions
Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for example:
- main clauses connected with and / but
- tense of the introductory clause
- reported speech for difficult tenses
- exeptions for backshift
- requests with must, should, ought to and let’s
Exercises on Reported Speech
Statements in Reported Speech
- no backshift – change of pronouns
- no backshift – change of pronouns and places
- with backshift
- with backshift and change of place and time expressions
Questions in Reported Speech
Requests in Reported Speech
Mixed Exercises on Reported Speech
Grammar in Texts
Reported speech
We use reported speech when we are saying what other people say, think or believe.
- He says he wants it.
- We think you are right.
- I believe he loves her.
- Yesterday you said you didn't like it but now you do!
- She told me he had asked her to marry him.
- I told you she was ill.
- We thought he was in Australia.
When we are reporting things in the present, future or present perfect we don't change the tense.
- He thinks he loves her.
- I'll tell her you are coming.
- He has said he'll do it.
When we tell people what someone has said in the past, we generally make the tense 'more in the past'.
- You look very nice. = I told him he looked very nice.
- He's working in Siberia now. = She told me he was working in Siberia now.
- Polly has bought a new car. = She said Polly had bought a new car.
- Jo can't come for the weekend. = She said Jo couldn't come for the weekend.
- Paul called and left a message. = He told me Paul had called and had left me a message.
- I'll give you a hand. = He said he would give me a hand.
However, when we are reporting something that was said in the past but is still true, it is not obligatory to make the tense 'more in the past'. The choice is up to the speaker. For example:"The train doesn't stop here."
- He said the train doesn't stop here.
- He said the train didn't stop here.
"I like Sarah."
- She said she likes Sarah.
- She said she liked Sarah.
When we are reporting what was said, we sometimes have to change other words in the sentence.We have to change the pronoun if we are reporting what someone else said. Compare these two sentences. In each case the person actually said "I don't want to go."
- I said I didn't want to go.
- Bill said he didn't want to go.
We have to change words referring to 'here and now' if we are reporting what was said in a different place or time.
Compare these two sentences. In each case the person actually said "I'll be there at ten tomorrow."
- (If it is later the same day) He said he would be there at ten tomorrow.
- (If it is the next day) He said he would be there at ten today.
Now compare these two sentences.
- (If we are in a different place) He said he would be there tomorrow at ten.
- (If we are in the place he is coming to) He said he would be here at ten tomorrow.
exercise 2
Uso
Usamos "Reported Speech" (discurso indireto) para relatar o que aconteceu em um diálogo, sem qure precisemos usar aspas ou fazer sitações.
O "Reported Speech" faz com que o texto fique mais bonito, organizado e fácil de ler.
Ex.: Direct Speech --> He said: "I don't want to go to school."
Reported Speech --> He said he didn't want to go to school.
Para relatar uma frase que foi dita por alguém no passado, usamos um verbo introdutório, como say, tell, explain, em sua forma no passado (said, told, explained), e depois a frase dita, com as devidas alterações de acordo com a tabela abaixo:
O "Reported Speech" faz com que o texto fique mais bonito, organizado e fácil de ler.
Ex.: Direct Speech --> He said: "I don't want to go to school."
Reported Speech --> He said he didn't want to go to school.
Para relatar uma frase que foi dita por alguém no passado, usamos um verbo introdutório, como say, tell, explain, em sua forma no passado (said, told, explained), e depois a frase dita, com as devidas alterações de acordo com a tabela abaixo:
| Direct Speech | Reported Speech | Example |
| Simple Present | Simple Past | He said: "I want some oranges." He said he wanted some oranges. |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous | They said: "We are studying hard." They said they were studying hard. |
| Simple Past | Past Perfect | She said: "I needed you, but uou weren't here." She said she had needed him, but he hadn't beenthere. |
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous | Tom said: "I was talking to Mary." Tom said he had been talking to Mary. |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect | They said: "We've worked together." They said they had worked together. |
| Going to- Future | was/were going to. | I said: "I'm going to visit Jim"! I said I was going to visit Jim" |
| Must | Had to* | She told me: "I must hurry up." She told me she had to hurry up. |
Atenção!
Pronomes Pessoais, Pronomes Objetivos, Pronomes e Adjetivos Possessivos devem ser trocados de acordo com o contexto da frase:
Ex.: "I will call my father", said Angela. --> Angela said she would call her father.
Inglês - Brasil Escola
Pronomes Pessoais, Pronomes Objetivos, Pronomes e Adjetivos Possessivos devem ser trocados de acordo com o contexto da frase:
Ex.: "I will call my father", said Angela. --> Angela said she would call her father.
Reported Speech
Another grammar lesson in our blog: Reported Speech.
Beginners:
Reported statements: Explanation and exercises.
Reported questions: Explanation and exercises.
Advanced:
Reported speech: Explanation and exercises.
Reported statements: Explanation and exercises.
Reported questions: Explanation and exercises.
Reported requests: Explanation and exercises.
Reported speech: Additional information and exceptions.
Mixed Exercise I
Mixed Exercise II
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